Why?

Why is it cold? Why hasn't the rain stopped?  Why can't I run faster? Why do my legs hurt so bad? Why did I decide to train for a triathlon? Why do people we love get Cancer? Why, why, why?

This weekend was Training Weekend. Two days of full Olympic distance training for our events. This is the Wildflower course. One of the toughest courses in the tri series. Needless to say, I did not sign up for this triathlon.... I chose Maui. A bit warmer and I get to stay in a hotel. (That's my type of camping) Never the less, I borrowed camping gear from friends. They had more faith in me and my camping skills then I did. They did not let me down. I drove the 4 hours to Lake San Antonio and put my tent up in the cold and wind with the help of my team mates.

Dinner was a feast! Our resident Fireman built our fire; was that kerosene I saw? Too bad we forgot the marshmallows.... It was a great start to the weekend. And then we went to bed....

Bitter cold seeped through my bones. I woke up curled in a tight little ball, so tight that my muscles hurt from tension. Grasping in the darkness, I found the headlamp. Yes, I did get a head lamp. Turning it on, I found my bag that was loaded with long sleeved warmth. I was so prepared it was ridiculous, or so I thought. I put on thermals, long sleeved under armour, a sweatshirt, a hat, soccer socks, running tights, gloves, etc. Anything you could imagine, I had layered on. So excited to warm up, I stepped outside. It was chilly, but I felt toasty now. A quick jaunt to the restroom and I was back in my tent. Bedtime. 20 minutes later I was freezing again. I could not warm up. All I could do was wait for the sun to come up. Or the Iron team to blare the horn at 5:30 am. Yikes!

Good morning rain, good morning cold. Today was the big swim and then bike. We would complete our full 1500 meters of swim and then a 40K bike ride. The first task of the day was to overcome the lack of Starbucks. Not a good thing for us city girls. So fueling up on yogurt and bananas was the next best thing. We loaded our vehicles and headed down to where we would set up transition and get into the water. Wet suits in hand, we begin the process of body-gliding our wrists, ankles and neck lines to help with the friction of the wet suits. One leg at a time, we slide on the suit. More like yank, stretch, hop and pull.

Wet suit on, the trek to the water is dicey. Our first entry into the water was by jumping off the dock. Not a welcome surprise. The water was in the 50's. So chilly that the leaders of the swim suggested we remove any rings in case our fingers shrank from the cold and they fell off. ( The rings that is, although I felt like my fingers and toes were frostbitten.) Head finally in the water, I start to breathe. 1, 2, 3 breathe. That's the cadence I use in the pool. Not so much in the freezing lake. 3 strokes in, flip to my back. The back stroke is a nice option when your freaking out, but don't want to drown. There has to be at least 100 people in the water, all swimming towards the little orange buoy that signals the turn around. I'm thinking I am pretty good.  About 50 people in front of me and the other half behind. The middle is good. By the time I returned to the dock and started walking in with the use of a rope they set up I was one of the last. Now, how did that happen?

Out of the water, its time to transition. I am soaking wet, the wetsuit is off and its time to put cycle gear on. I am definitely investing in a tri suit. Again, its cold outside and raining so we add extra layers, the problem is that we are putting warm, dry layers on over wet bathing suits. It doesn't make much sense, I know. 4 layers later and clipped in, its off to our next event.

Obstacles are challenging, Lynch Hill was much more than an obstacle, more like something I will avoid in the future. A .6 mile climb at 17% grade. My legs almost bonked just looking at the hill. Knowing that was the worst hill, once I had climbed it I thought this was going to be a piece of cake. Little did I know the the course is rife with hills and long, slow climbs. We only wore sunglasses to protect us from the pelting rain. There certainly wasn't any sun out.

After the turn around was a very long climb. This is where I started to ask my questions. Why couldn't the rain stop? Why was the girl in front of me singing at the top of her lungs? Why wasn't I walking my bike up the hill? I could stop right now. I didn't have to pedal anymore. But then I started thinking about my girls and how much I missed them. If I pedaled faster I could see them sooner.

Mind wandering seems to happen frequently when you're on a bike, probably so you aren't so focused on the super steep hill right in front of you. I missed my babies, but I wanted to finish strong so that they could be proud of me. I thought how grateful I am that they are strong and healthy. ( Except the lovely rug burn on Paxton's nose. ) I'm not really sure how that happened???.

The last hill is actually down hill. Its Lynch Hill. Nice and easy, just hanging on for dear life! I do not want to be digging gravel out of my back side for hours. The hill is slick and slippery. Not such a safe place for cyclists. The last turn and I'm done.

I'm really done! We are supposed to run the course the next day, but I pack up my gear and promise my coach that I will run 6.2 miles in the morning. I want my own warm bed. Yes, I know.... I am wimpy.

I do run the 6.2 miles and round off the mileage to 8 miles with the help of some great friends who didn't mind me tagging along. Training weekend was tough. Probably more so than I anticipated. But I really walked away ( crawled is more like it) with a sense of accomplishment and a greater understanding of pain. Here's the thing though, my pain is nothing to what a cancer patient goes through. No hill is too steep, no lake too frozen for me if it would take away the physical and emotional pain that someone with cancer experiences.

~Go Team!

Fundraising at its finest!

Beep, beep, beep! The alarm went off at 6 am. Ugh! Roll out of bed, jump in the shower and get ready to merchandise my wares. Today is the day of the Big Garage Sale. All funds going to LLS. My goal was $1000; a little high, I know. My husband.... He thinks we will be good at $300.

Pyper has her table ready- selling brownies and Baklava. The Baklava is amazing! The brownies sell out to all of the kids. Scott puts all the signs up and I am organizing. Oh- and there is organizing to do. We have boys clothes, girls clothes.... Heat lamps, DVDS, strollers, toys and yes...... Bras! Hello- when I asked for donations I was not expecting that. But hey- we sold them and that's what matters. It pays to be a Closer.

The day is long and we are busy. Bartering is not my style, so I struggle when people want to bargain for the goods. We have amazing stuff and people want it for less. I realize we are at a garage sale, but come on! We are raising money to fight Cancer. Most don't care, but there were a few that shared their stories of loved ones who were going through treatment or were survivors. Those people I liked. Everyone else.... I'm glad they helped me to reach our goal.

I am not a pack rat and do not hold on to things for long. After all, they are just things and we are so much more than that. Garage selling is a one time thing. Many people supported me and donated quality items. Others donated baked goods and tables to house the product. I am so grateful for that.

At the end of the day, my house is now clean. We have a pick up scheduled for the Salvation Army and we made our goal. The family is exhausted...... And we are one step closer to curing Cancer.